The Optimist: Lost Weekend
Oscar E Moore from the rear mezzanine for Talk Entertainment.com
Running time: 90 minutes with one 15 minute intermission. That’s what it states in the program for The Optimist, by Jason Chimonides – directed by Jace Alexander. So I asked myself – as I sat there waiting and waiting for the play to begin - finally at 8:20 it did - Why do they have to have an intermission when the show runs a mere 90 minutes?
At the end of the first act I got the answer to my question. The set has a major change. Rather a major rearrangement. Almost unnecessary. Instead of the non-descript, Floridian motel room with twin beds and a bath – which has been disheveled during the time we meet the fraternal twin brothers (Noel – Matt Burns and Declan - Chris Thorn) and the ex girl friend of Noel (Nicole - Caitlin FitzGerald) during the first act – we witness the further deconstruction of the non-descript room which takes quite some time to accomplish as the two stagehands check off what appears to be a long list of what needs to be rearranged and taped up. Lamp shades are removed. The floor cleaned of debris. Beds and mattresses are either removed or set up differently for the commencement of Act II. Sound exciting? It isn’t. And neither is the play.
We discover that a boxing match has been set up (and thereby the reason for the ring like feel of the Motel room) between Noel and his father who he thinks is responsible for his mom’s death and is remarrying a long time girl friend. In fact, the brothers are there for the wedding festivities. Enter Nicole, who just happens to be in the same Motel for the funeral of their mutual best friend Tanya, who still loves Noel but has a new boyfriend (in the wrecking business) who she thinks she wants to marry but hesitates just long enough to totally confuse Noel. Declan just wants to get laid. That’s the plot.
In philosophical, poet quoting, psycho babble dialogue written by Mr. Chimonides we get to experience what it is like to be twenty five years old fraternal twins that have seemingly never outgrown the infantile tantrums or desires. The writing is sloppy. The performances are indulgent. Noel (Matt Burns) often takes off his tee shirt to reveal a slim torso with just a hint of a large tattoo peeking out from beneath his slipping trousers which is both tantalizing and distracting. Worse yet, he takes the ashes of Tanya and has a morbid facial and eating exercise with them. Caitlin FitzGerald fares a bit better. She gets to wear a few pretty outfits but is required to ask, at the ripe old age of twenty– “Where did it all go?” Good question.
Favorite moments:
Noel writhing against the writing in lipstick of Nicole on the mirror at the end of Act I.
Declan being locked in the closet while Nicole and Noel have it out with one another and there is nary a knock to be free or a word spoken until his next cue.
Intermission. Watching the two females change the mattresses.
End of Act II. Declan doing some sort of Greek memorial dance over the departed.
03-27-08
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